US - The national popularity of organic foods has continued to increase over the past decade, and UCLA students and officials are looking to jump on board with plans to include several organic food options at on-campus eateries.
Though they are very early in the process, student groups are teaming up with university officials to explore bringing organic food to both on-campus dining halls and other eateries.
Nationwide, organic foods – products grown without pesticides or other chemical additives – have become more popular among consumers in recent years. Sales of organic food and beverages in the U.S. have grown from $1 billion in 1990 to an estimated $12.2 billion in 2004, according to the Organic Trade Association.
That trend is evident elsewhere in the University of California. Earlier this month, UC Berkeley launched the first certified organic salad bar on a college campus, while UC Santa Cruz&#39;s organic-food program, which has been in use for three years, is spreading to other campuses.
Shawn LaPean, director of Cal Dining, said providing food that was certified by the California Certified Organic Farmers to be organic was important to the inclusion of the new salad bar.
&quot;We wanted to make sure there was integrity in the program,&quot; he said.
<em>Source: Daily Bruin</em>